Health insurance denial & claim adjustment codes

What health insurance denial code 286 means on your EOB

Your appeal came in after the deadline. Deadlines differ sharply between employer plans, marketplace plans, and Medicare, and good-cause exceptions exist.

What usually causes it

• The appeal missed the plan's filing window.
• The denial notice arrived late or never arrived.
• The deadline was calculated from the wrong date.

The documents that decide it

• The date of the denial notice.
• The date you filed.
• The plan's stated appeal deadline.

What to do next

If the denial notice reached you late, say so — late notice is a recognized good-cause exception in most plan documents and in Medicare.

This page explains what a code means. It is information, not advice — it does not tell you whether your specific claim should have been paid, and it is not legal, medical, or insurance advice. Your plan documents and your denial notice govern your situation.